In God, Even the Waves Work to Your Advantage!

Hello Hello! I pray everyone’s New Year got off to a great start! I am so excited about what God has in store for 2018! I know you must be as well! So, I missed Transparent Tuesday again. However, this time around I wasn’t too adamant about posting that day. I shared a special New Year’s Eve post and figured you guys didn’t have to hear from me two days in a row. If you feel like you did, how sweet of you! Maybe we can work those back to back posts in in the near future.

For the first time I am actually unsure about what I want to share today. I’m honestly praying something drops in my spirit like NOW! It’s taking a little longer than I thought. Let me take a minute to listen. I refuse to ramble on and bore you all until it comes.

Nothing like letting God take the wheel. He brought it quickly! For the last few days I have been in reflection mode. I’ve reflected on this past year and the hardships that I encountered. Though painful at times, 2017 was a year of much growth for me. I gained so much strength, my faith went to another level and I experienced God in a way that I never had before. I have always felt God’s presence in my life no matter what the circumstances. But there are specific situations that force you into a deeper place in him. You understand that there is NO way you can get through without him and you cling to him with everything in your being. That was me most of 2017.

As I worship, prayed and sought God on New Year’s Eve, one of my favorite songs came to my spirit. The song is entitled, “Oceans”, and I know being that it is a very popular song, most of you may have heard it. If you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out. It is a beautiful song that testifies of one’s trust in God and how he truly carries you and gives you the faith to trust and believe he is always with you.

If I had to choose a theme song for 2017, it would truly be “Oceans”. Every word, line and even the music testifies to how I was feeling throughout 2017. There are three stanza’s in particular that I will share from the song that truly brought me to tears as I listened to this song. I knew by it coming to my spirit, God was desiring that I carefully examine how he led, guided and carried me . He was prompting me to take note of all that he had brought about in 2017 and to see how he turned a difficult situation to one that produced much good fruit.

Please take a minute to read over the words to this song“Oceans”. Truly embrace and allow God to speak to you. They truly bless the soul and I’m pretty sure most can relate and appreciate the powerful words that have been written.

“Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior”

I was brought to tears as I reflected on God’s compassion, love and grace this past year. He never left me. He never allowed me to get so down that I couldn’t see his hand in things. He made sure I kept my eyes above the waves. And grace did abound in the deepest of waters. He truly was leading and guiding me to places that to the natural eye were scary, difficult and fearful. But yet I trusted. He had NEVER failed me, and I knew somehow good would come out of my pain. I knew God had a plan and purpose and I refused to allow emotion, fear or lack of faith to get in the way.

The harder things appeared to get, it was always met with God’s grace, love, joy and peace. Whenever a situation would come up that tested my faith, he intervened. He continuously showed me who was in control. He showed me how deep and real his love for me was. He proved he was my provider, comforter, deliverer, friend, Lover, Lord, Father and King! I have learned that there is NOTHING too hard for God. If you continue to trust him, despite how you feel, despite how it looks, despite anything that is trying to steal your faith, you will WIN!

I WON! I won because I am truly a different woman! What could have broke me, only strengthened me and my faith in him. Not once did I doubt HIM, but at times I doubted myself. I wondered if I was strong enough. I wondered if I was making him proud in the midst of my pain. And when I would question these things, he would send people to confirm God’s words concerning me. They saw me as strong, and questioned how I could still be so joyful, happy and kind when my world as I knew it appeared to be falling apart. I now understand it was quite the opposite. My world was instead coming together and aligning with his plan for me. God made it a point to use me even more in that season. I continued to encourage, to love, to uplift and to evolve into who he was calling me to be. That amazes me!

How did I get to this point? One simple choice brought me here. I chose to focus on God, and not the waves. And in doing so God used the waves to my advantage. Each wave brought new revelation into my situation. The waves provided opportunity for God to show himself big. It caused my faith to grow stronger. It caused me to begin focusing on how he wanted to use the situation as opposed to how it was using me. That changed everything!

My passion for Godly relationships have been fueled all the more! And now I understand the bigger picture. I truly get it now. As difficult as it was to go through certain things, what I acquired was needed. I needed to see God in those ways. I needed to learn the lessons I learned. I had to draw closer to him. I had to come to understand Godly relationships through the lens of God. And my life is better because of it.

So I encourage all of you to look deeper. If you find that 2017 was a trying year, take a minute to reflect on areas in which you may note positive changes that resulted because of those experiences. How have you grown? Did he still continue to encourage you to be a blessing? Examine closely the times in which you experienced his love, joy, grace and peace, regardless of any negativity you may have been experiencing. Did you choose to focus on the waves or God?

If you answered the waves, leave that in 2017. This year you will focus on God, and allow him to use the waves to your advantage. You will cling to him! And I mean cling with all your being. He will in return cling to you. He will carry you. He will give you just what you need in each given day if you but ask. He will give you new insight into your circumstances. Know that if you are his, he is working all things for your good. NEVER think any situation is too big or even too small. And you will see the bigger picture and gain a better understanding of your call and purpose. It will all bring glory to him.

It’s so surreal to think about 2017. It’s almost like it was so long ago and here we are only 3 days into 2018. But it honestly feels like it was so long ago, because I truly feel so different. It’s amazing how God moves when you simply surrender, trust and believe. I am not the same woman I was last year. I am whole, equipped, confident, and so excited about all that he has in store for me. More than anything I’m excited to be used by him. To walk in his will and purpose for me.

I am excited that he has caused me to realize how amazing, special, rare, unique and beautiful I am. And in no way is that arrogance, but it’s what happens when you truly allow him to affirm who you are in him. God causes you to fully see yourself as he does. I know and fully understand that how he has designed me and what he has imparted in me can only be appreciated by the one of his choosing. No way will I settle for less than what God desires and has for me. When singles fully grasp that, they are in an amazing place. And they make room for God to move in that area.

So let’s make this year epic! Let’s make it a priority to daily be doing things to move us forward in our purpose. Let’s focus on loving others. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m big on love. Some may find it annoying but you will learn to love me because of it. Love is the greatest commandment! Praying you all have a very blessed day! I love you all! Many Blessings!